Change is not a single event, but a transitional process with multiple and varied events supporting the objective of moving an organization and its stakeholders from a current state to a future state.
While responding to a change, there is classically a dip in performance due to an individual’s normal reaction to change. The disruption can occur at various times throughout the transitional process before the future state is achieved. In some cases, especially without change management, adoption of the change can fail and old behaviors resume. Stakeholders must begin to behave differently for the change to be adopted.
The following graph is an example and has been adapted from numerous change management thought leadership sources.
The transition from the current to a future state is achieved by applying change management
processes so that stakeholders are engaged before, during, and after the change process.
Effective change management results when the perceived negative impacts and risks of the
change are minimized and the overall expected benefits are achieved, ideally within the budget
and schedule.
